Of course, the Maple Leafs goaltender would love nothing more than to face his former team, the Los Angeles Kings, on Wednesday night at the Air Canada Centre.

The Kings drafted Bernier in 2006 and he won the Stanley Cup with the club in 2012, but wasn’t able to topple Jonathan Quick from the starter’s perch and became expendable, finding his way via trade to the Leafs in June.

One would think that Leafs coach Randy Carlyle would give Bernier his first chance to show his former team that he was more than capable of being the No. 1 goalie.

And if that happens, Bernier probably wouldn’t mind if his Leafs teammates tried to emulate his old Kings pals.

“The biggest thing with those guys is they are great two-way players, and that is what made us successful in the playoffs,” Bernier said of the Kings.

“The top guys are good defensively, and even if they won’t win 5-0, they might win 2-1 just because of those great players. There is a lot of talent on that team.”

Bernier gave a similar answer to a different question moments later, telling reporters “(the Kings’) star players are two-way players and that makes a huge difference when guys are committed to play defensive and they realize how important it is.”

The Leafs, like any other team in the National Hockey League, realize it as well. They’re just not as good at it as the Kings, or many other clubs.

Consider, for example, that the Leafs have given up a league-high 1,150 shots on goal in 31 games. The Kings, who played on Tuesday night in Montreal against the Canadiens, had played one less game but had allowed 782 shots, third-fewest in the NHL, and 368 less than the Leafs.

There has been a disconnect between the Leafs forwards and defencemen in many games that Carlyle has been unable to fix, and for the next two games, it will be more difficult as captain Dion Phaneuf serves a suspension for boarding Kevan Miller of the Boston Bruins on Sunday.

“Someone else gets an opportunity to fill (Phaneuf’s 24 minutes 13 seconds a game, a Leafs high) and some get a chance to play the power play and the penalty kill,” Carlyle said. “The reality is we have to have a group sharing in the responsibility. I don’t think at this point we can look at one player or two players or three players. The level of our defence play has to go up. Now we are taxing it to a point where we have to ask more of players who traditionally don’t play those minutes. I feel there are people who are capable of doing it.”

Cody Franson and Jake Gardiner, who on average play three minutes fewer than Phaneuf, both should expect to see an increase. Franson was paired with Phaneuf’s regular partner, Carl Gunnarsson, at practice on Tuesday.

“Neuf plays a lot of minutes, and he plays a lot of minutes against the best players,” Franson said. “It’s up to the rest of us to come in and do a job that fills that void. I’ve been playing through some bumps and bruises and I have not been playing as physical, but I am feeling better again.”

Carlyle said he would take into consideration that Bernier would be facing his old team if he chose to go with him, but wouldn’t give up the goods. The coach knows his team would be in a lot of trouble without the combined performance of Bernier and James Reimer, and is comfortable with either in net against the Kings.

“Our goaltending has been one of our stronger suits and Jonathan has played very well,” Carlyle said. “I think there are some games and goals I am sure he would like to have back.

“But if we are to take the body of work our goaltenders have been able to provide, we would have to say we are very fortunate.”

Bernier’s vote is for Reimer to watch.

“Probably a lot of excitement, maybe nervous a little bit and after first shot probably would go away, but it would be a first for me to get traded and play against my old team,” Bernier said. “It is going to be fun (if he plays).”

Leafs' Bernier: Two-way play makes Kings successful

Of course, the Maple Leafs goaltender would love nothing more than to face his former team, the Los Angeles Kings, on Wednesday night at the Air Canada Centre.

The Kings drafted Bernier in 2006 and he won the Stanley Cup with the club in 2012, but wasn’t able to topple Jonathan Quick from the starter’s perch and became expendable, finding his way via trade to the Leafs in June.

One would think that Leafs coach Randy Carlyle would give Bernier his first chance to show his former team that he was more than capable of being the No. 1 goalie.

And if that happens, Bernier probably wouldn’t mind if his Leafs teammates tried to emulate his old Kings pals.

“The biggest thing with those guys is they are great two-way players, and that is what made us successful in the playoffs,” Bernier said of the Kings.